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2013 Through My Eyes: Nicholas Albanis [Dandelion Wine]

“Dandelion Wine are a dark ethereal electro-world band that while based in Melbourne Australia, inhabit a very different world. A world where the centuries bleed into one another to create a seamless whole. A world where medieval instruments collide headlong with electronic beats. A world where angelic vocals soar over waves of distorted guitars. A world where gentle acoustic whispers sit alongside impassioned blasts of inner turmoil.” [Official website]

How would you summarize this past year on artistic and personal level?

The big highlight for us this year was our Europe/Hong Kong tour, especially playing at Festival Mediaval in Germany with so many fantastic bands and friends. The other great thing was our Pozible crowd-funding campaign for the tour – it was really nice to have so many fans around the world that cared enough about this band to support us in this way.

What album you listened to most often this year (not necessarily released in 2013)?

There’s a couple that have been on high rotation for us this year (although none of them were released this year!) :
The National – High Violet
Valravn – ReCoded
Alcest – Écailles de Lune

What was the best cultural experience not related to music?

Being introduced to the marvels of Estonian saunas. We were lucky enough to stay on a farm that had a traditional sauna that is heated using a fire place underneath the sauna room on the floor below. We were amazed by the amount of heat it produced and of the amazing feeling of going from the heat into cool and into heat again… strangely refreshing! Not to mention the array of beer and snacks in between!!!

And best trip? Most beautiful or magic place you visited this year?

The only trips we get time to take are tours really, and we were very happy to head back to Europe this year, where we played in Poland, Estonia, Switzerland and Germany… we also got to play in Hong Kong for the first time this year, which was amazing and very different to Australia or Europe. The only other part of Asia we have been to is Japan and we were really hoping to get to play more concerts in Asia in the future. Oh and playing at Tolkien festival in the Swiss Alps was pretty magical – it really was like being in the Misty Mountains!

What was your greatest disappointment of 2013?

The Australian federal election… too depressing to even talk about…

Did you learn anything particular this year?

1. Our fans are amazing!
2. NEVER try and take a whole lot of musical gear on an intercity train (we should have learned that years ago…)
3. If there is a small chance to have a few days off in Paris you should always try and do it.

Plans, hopes, expectations for 2014?

The big plan is to make sure we finish another album this year! We hoped to have it finished this year but touring and general life stuff made it impossible. We won’t be doing any major tours in 2014 so we have to time to dedicate to the album… and then we can’t wait to come and play it for you in 2015!